ATHLETE LIFESTYLE. Optimizing health and training during an Olympic year. ELITE COACHES SEMINAR - Orlando 2009

Transcription

1 ATHLETE LIFESTYLE Optimiing health and training during an Olympic year. ELITE COACHES SEMINAR - Orlando 2009 Charlene Boudreau Director, Sports Sciences & Medicine U.S. Figure Skating Supporting the ART and BUSINESS of SCIENCE-based coaching. An array of factors affects skating technique and performance. Physical Training Attitude Nutrition Sleep Recovery Alcohol Cortisol GH Physique Mental Stress Immune System Physical Training x x x x(cort) H-Attitude x x H-Nutrition x x x x x x x H-Sleep x x(gh) x x x(cort) x x H-Recovery x x H-Alcohol x x x x x x(sleep) H-Cortisol x(*) x x H-GH x x x H-Physique x x H-Mental stress x x x x x(*) x x x(cort) x(cort) H-Immune system x x x x cboudreau@usfigureskating.org 1

2 MYTH: FACT: All training occurs during exercise. A lot of training occurs during rest/recovery.* Enter: Athlete Lifestyle Everything affects physical training. Almost everything affects mental stress. Mental stress affects almost everything. Nutrition and sleep affect a lot. Cortisol is the common denominator. *Physiological training effect, excludes technique. A stress hormone involved in carbohydrate metabolism and immune function. Cortisol 101 (aka hydrocortisone) Daily rhythmic fluctuation, with levels highest in morning and lowest at night. Disruption of rhythm is partially responsible for feeling of jet lag. Responds to physical and mental stress. Highest during times of stress and severe illness. cboudreau@usfigureskating.org 2

3 Some cortisol supports immunity Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. Important in normal immune responses. But prolonged elevations can X Reduce white blood cell production by 38%. X Damage the thymus gland which produces these immune cells. Can speed tissue repair. Can maintain blood pressure and blood sugar in times of need. X X Depress the body's immune defense system. Reduce the rate at which lymphocytes (immune cells) multiply. Did you know When cortisol is elevated during the alarm reaction, there is almost a complete disappearance of lymphocytes from the blood. That is why your immune system is suppressed when you are under stress...on the other hand when circulating cortisol is low, its moderating effect on immune reactions is lost and lymphocytes circulate in excess. Remember: too little or too much are both bad. Prolonged elevations in cortisol can also lead to: Impaired cognitive performance Suppressed thyroid function Blood sugar imbalances such as hyperglycemia Decreased bone density Decrease in muscle tissue Elevated blood pressure Reduced inflammatory response Increased abdominal fat cboudreau@usfigureskating.org 3

4 People are biologically wired to react differently to stress. TRAINING~HEALTH LIFESTYLE~ENVIRONMENT Volume, intensity, recovery, taper, technique, competition, colds, fever, GI infection, menstrual dysfunction, sleep, daily schedule, nutrition, housing conditions, leisure activities, family, roommates, teammates, coach, job, school Therefore Cortisol secretion varies among individuals. Did you know IF you secrete higher levels of cortisol in response to stress You MAY also tend to eat more Compared to people who secrete less cortisol. One person may secrete higher levels of cortisol than another in the same situation. Nutrition can be stressful. w.r.t. Training. Eat foods that support daily training requirements in terms of total energy, fuel sources and metabolic catalysts. Cover the basics of variety, color, timing, carbs, protein, and fluids, and extend this to recovery. w.r.t Recovery. Take advantage of the postexercise insulin response to replenish glycogen, attenuate tissue breakdown and promote tissue accretion grams carb plus grams protein within min of workout; Followed by a mixed meal. w.r.t. Cortisol. Insufficient carbohydrate can lead to elevated cortisol grams/kg body weight. 130 lbs: grams; 190 lbs: grams. w.r.t. Physique. Balance calorie intake with training expenditures. Time calorie intake to maximie use and storage. Obtain calories from sources that enhance metabolism and minimie waste and unnecessary hormonal responses. w.r.t. Mental stress. Address / overcome nutrition and food related challenges that can increase mental stress. cboudreau@usfigureskating.org 4

5 Nutrition and the Immune System Adequate carbohydrate intake maintains glycogen stores and therefore plasma/muscle glutamine. Glutamine is a fuel source for immune system cells. Adequate carbohydrate intake keeps glutamine levels higher during intense training and helps return levels to normal after exercise. Adequate carbohydrate intake also attenuates the cortisol response to exercise. Note: Carbohydrate during exercise is used to maintain blood sugar levels, not for glutamine synthesis. A diet low in carbohydrate and high in protein may create a condition of acidosis, which requires buffering with glutamine, reducing its availability and increasing susceptibility to infection. Supplemental glutamine will not be effective It only prevents muscle breakdown for glutamine and preserve immune cell integrity in very extreme exercise conditions. A compromised immune system Reduces tolerance for high intensity work. Limits ability to attend practice. Increases risk of spreading of germs to team-mates. Reduces adaptation due to lower tolerance and longer time required to recover from workout. Creates compounding stress from missing workout, class, upcoming competition, etc. Disrupts sleep. Large changes in sleep patterns can occur during infection. Sleep changes can be a major sign of infection. During infection and illness there is an increased tendency to sleep. It is suspected, but not proven, that sleep facilitates the healing process. cboudreau@usfigureskating.org 5

6 Speaking of SLEEP... Humans sleep in 90 minute cycles of the non-rem* and REM phases: Growth hormone secretion in humans is directly tied to sleep: (and sleep inhibits cortisol!) Non-REM occurs during the first half of the cycle (deep sleep, difficult to wake). REM occurs during the second half of the cycle ( dream state, not as deep, easier to wake, but don t like to). Age and the amount and quality of sleep on previous nights can alter this pattern. Non-REM sleep is an anabolic state marked by physiological processes of growth and rejuvenation of the body's immune, nervous, muscular, and skeletal systems. *REM = Rapid Eye Movement If sleep is either advanced or delayed from its normal time, the peak episode of growth hormone secretion is advanced or delayed to coincide with the early part of sleep. Shhh Why are we talking about Growth Hormone? A protein hormone of about 190 amino acids that is synthesied and secreted by cells in the anterior pituitary. A major participant in control of growth and metabolism: In young adults, the most intense period of growth hormone release is shortly after the onset of deep sleep. It s FREE TRAINING!!! GH stimulates protein anabolism (increases amino acid uptake, increases protein synthesis, decreases protein oxidation). GH enhances the utiliation of fat (stimulates triglyceride breakdown and oxidation). GH helps maintain blood glucose within a normal range. GH is also affected by stress, exercise, and nutrition! cboudreau@usfigureskating.org 6

7 Sleep Facts & Effects: A decline in sleep quality and quantity increases cortisol and decreases growth hormone. Sleep deprivation can also reduce alertness: Chronic sleep deprivation is very stressful and elevates cortisol release. Sleep deprivation can lead to glucose intolerance, diabetes and weight gain. Sleep deprivation can also reduce alertness. Alcohol causes disrupted and fragmented sleep, and consistently disrupts the proportions of the various sleep stages: Suppression of REM sleep during the first half of the sleep period Rebound effect after 4-5 hrs, longer-than-normal REM periods when alcohol has cleared from the body. Tolerance to alcohol s sedative and sleep-stage effects can develop within 3 nights. Alcohol before bedtime can suppress growth-hormone secretion at a doserelated rate. Alcohol-related suppression of growth-hormone secretion can persist over repeated nights of alcohol administration, despite sleep-stage tolerance. Alcohol contains almost twice as many calories as juice (7 kcal/gram vs 4 kcal/gram). cboudreau@usfigureskating.org 7

8 It all comes down to STRESS. Stress is a mentally, emotionally or physically disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and can affect physical health. Stress is usually characteried by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, depression, an impaired immune system and propensity to increase the risk of other diseases. Stress affects all aspects of training: Training itself reduced resilience Attitude reduced motivation Nutrition loss of appetite Sleep loss of or disrupted sleep Recovery impaired due to compounding of other factors Alcohol increased tendency to use/abuse Cortisol marked and prolonged elevation Physique - impaired to due chain reaction with other factors Immune system impaired due to chain reaction with other factors To manage stress and maintain healthy cortisol levels: Maximie recovery time between workouts! 1. Refuel with nutritious foods and fluids. 2. Get enough sleep. 3. Activate your body s relaxation response. MANAGE STRESS & ENHANCE Performance Develop a scientifically sound, professionally-supported training program that balances training, recovery, and performance assessment. Remember: If you re more sensitive to stress, it s especially important for you to learn stress management techniques and maintain a stress-managed lifestyle. Guided Imagery ~ Journaling ~ Self-Hypnosis Yoga ~ Meditation ~ Rhythmic Breathing Listening to Music ~ Leisure Activities cboudreau@usfigureskating.org 8

9 Recovery seems like such a simple thing. Everything affects physical training. Almost everything affects mental stress. Mental stress affects almost everything. Nutrition and sleep affect a lot. Cortisol is the common denominator. Be aware of your lifestyle effect. cboudreau@usfigureskating.org 9